Police Chase, Crash Will Be Scrutinized

CENTRAL FLORIDA - The Area - In Brief

February 25, 2004

An Orlando police officer is under investigation to determine whether he violated the department's vehicle-chase policy after his squad car rammed a robbery suspect's car Tuesday.

Officer Carlos Castillo began following a white van after three people ran from a Winn-Dixie store about 6:15 a.m. One of the suspects, John Anselmo, ate a $2.99 sandwich without paying for it, police said.

A store manager wrestled Anselmo, 23, to the ground but later let him go when Nicholas Martinez, 36, reached inside his pocket and implied he had a gun. That turned the police call into an armed robbery, police said.

Martinez and Anselmo were later arrested on charges of armed robbery. The third person in the van, Desiree Moore, 24, was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Castillo tried to stop the van on Michigan Street near Conway Road, but the van fled at a high rate of speed.

Castillo's squad car later struck the vehicle from behind at North Semoran Boulevard and Colonial Drive. No one was injured.

"We are doing an initial notice of inquiry to find out what happened from the time the watch commander said to terminate [the chase] until the time the officer slid into the back of the suspect's vehicle," said Sgt. Brian Gilliam, a police spokesman.

Department policy allows officers to pursue a suspect for violent crimes, including armed robbery, but they must follow strict guidelines.